Whatever It Takes, chapter 1

Chapter 1: Party

A crashing noise made Cassady open her eyes, despite the heavy sleep she was doused in. For a second her nickname flashed into her mind, Crash. It was given to her by her best friend, who was probably enjoying the party going on inside of her house, the down stairs that is. Compliments of Derek Williams, she though sitting up to rub her head. She was happy that her step brother decided to move back in, but disappointed that she couldn't get a decent night's sleep since then. Their parents had gone away on another one of their motorcycle adventures for a week during Mid-Winter break.

"Crash!" Amber burst in, "Oh sorry were you asleep?"

"Speaking of the devil," Cassady murmured, while watching her best friend break into one of her famous giggle fits.

Amber ignored Cassady's comment then continued to laugh, slightly high, "You have to come down, I found some really cool guys."

"You always find really cool guys," Cassady said under her breath, then added, "Okay."

The pair walked down the hall towards the stairs. Upon descending downward Cassady rolled her eyes at the crowd of people hovering around Derek. He, however, spotted her then smiled calling out her name. Instinctively Cassady grabbed Amber's arm in case she needed back up.

"Hey Cass," Derek said approaching her with a satisfied grin, "You're up."

Derek paused looking over at the person his 2 years younger sibling was holding on to, he looked her up and down then smiled, receiving on in return. This made Cassady again roll her eyes, even though Derek was 2 years older, he was still attracted to Amber.

"What do you want Derek?" Cassady asked annoyed drawing back his attention.

"I want you to meet some one," Derek replied looking back into the crowd, searching for the familiar face.

"Can't."

"Why?" Derek turned back to face her.

"Because," Cassady pulled Amber closer, "I've become a lesbian."

Derek gave her an annoyed look, "Listen Cass, I know the last guy was bad, but this one is only a year older than you and I know that you'd like him."

"Nope," Cassady put her arm around Amber allowing her to lean in a bit.

"Come on I know that you're straight," Derek pleaded with her then turned to Amber giving her a devilish grin, "And I know you're straight."

Cassady threw her arm off of Amber's shoulders, "Oh gross Derek."

"What?"

"That's my best friend and she's two years younger than you!"

"So."

"Come on Crash," Amber tugged on her arm.

Cassady walked with Amber not even looking back at her brother. Amber led her into her basement where a group of people sat around in a circle talking amongst themselves. One that particularly caught her attention was leaning back against the couch. She recognized him from a band that played at Gilman practically on a regular basis, he was the lead singer and very attractive. Although she couldn't recall his name at the moment, she knew that he would take off his shirt during the performances, and she also knew that Amber knew him. The rest of the people were laughing at something that he said while he grinned, satisfied that every one liked his joke. In a moment they locked eyes.

"Hey," Amber announced suddenly, "Every body this is Crash."

Cassady glared at her best friend surprised that she didn't slur, one of the many results of alcohol, and angry that Amber's little 'announcement' was so loud. She then smiled slightly as the crowd stared at her some of them smiling back. The male (I don't know whether to call him a boy or a man) sat up looking up some what interested. She tried to avoid looking at him so she wouldn't be caught staring into his beautiful green eyes for that long of a time. He was one of those people, who sucked you in when you looked at them, so you felt like you couldn't look away.

"Hey," he spoke drawing her attention, she watched as he lifted his slightly head as if to say 'what's up?'.

As she looked at him, Cassady realized that he was talking to Amber, or that what he had said was directed to Amber. Cassady played it off then watched as Amber moved to sit down on the couch that he was leaning on. She found herself staring as Amber rested her legs on the tops of his shoulders. It bugged her how Amber always got the guy that she found herself attracted to.

Tre watched the pretty blonde stare at Billie Joe, at the same time he was curious as to why she found him so interesting, why she wanted him. He didn't know for sure that she liked Billie, but there was a look of jealously directed towards Amber. They had been passing around a joint in the circle, but stopped when the two enter, because they were afraid they'd be busted. Now Tre had a sudden urge to go outside and smoke another. He looked at Mike suspecting that he'd want to go with him, but Mike was engaged in a conversation about basses. Tre wasn't the only one who knew there were only two things you couldn't break Mike away from. Joints, and talking about his bass.

So Tre got up, on his own, and went up the stairs, finding himself more and more craving a joint every second. He then pushed through the crowd to get to the door, not noticing that Derek had spotted him. Tre opened the door and managed to slip out of the party. Huffing out a sigh of relief, he reached into his pocket pulling out a freshly rolled joint, compliments of Billie Joe Armstrong. He smiled to himself before realizing that he hadn't brought his lighter with him then searched the ground with his eyes as if one would be lying in the grass. The whole time he never suspected that anyone would find him there even though he was in the front of the house. And he never once thought of what would happen if the cops just happened to drive by right then, and saw what he was holding.

Derek held out his lighter for Tre to grab gratefully. Tre felt a sudden ease pass over him as he pressed the joint to his lips, even though normally cigarettes would do it for you, he needed something stronger. He took it away for a moment letting silver smoke curl out from his lips, he sighed then turned to look at Derek with eyes only opened half way.

"This isn't the way to impress my sister man," Derek began.

"Oh come on, as if your sister hasn't smoked a joint before," Tre replied rolling his eyes.

A smiled played on Derek's lips as he informed Tre, "Dude, I'm not even sure that she's even seen a joint before."

Tre's jaw dropped, "You're trying to set me up with some spoiled little priss with a 'I don't want anything to do with bad boys' attitude?"

"No, no she's not like that at all, but my mom tries really hard to keep her away from the potheads like you. Now her friend Amber on the other hand, I don't think my mom knows very well," Derek let a smile escape.

"Man, I've met and seen Amber, she's cool, and she's hot. I don't mean to burst your bubble, but that's like totally Billie's chick."

"Billie Joe?" Derek questioned a shocked look on his face.

"Yup," Tre replied taking another drag, "She met him not too long ago and they just clicked. They have a lot in common it's kind of weird. Almost like if BJ were a chick then he'd be Amber and vise versa."

"Huh," Derek said looking slightly disappointed.

"Sorry man, but don't you have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah," Derek sighed, "Speaking of which I better get back to my own party."

"See yah," Tre waved taking yet another drag on his fattie.

Cassady continued to shift her weight from one foot to the other watching Amber and the guy continuously flirt with one another. At the moment Amber was whispering something into his ear, when she finished he pulled her close then whispered something back. After he was done Amber stared at him, as he stared back his eyes falling to her lips, she kissed his cheek. As a result he pulled her into his lap then began kissing her, which made Cassady feel sick to her stomach with jealousy.

Cassady felt her eyes roll, half because of how much this resembled a scene from a really corny chick flick, and half because of how jealous she was. After all he was just some guy, right? When she felt like she couldn't take it anymore she went up to Amber then tapped her shoulder. This caused Amber to look back and give her best friend an innocent look. Cassady pointed to the door saying something that couldn't be heard over the music about leaving, Amber got it and just nodded sad that she was leaving.

Making her way through the crowd Cassady paused looking for a sanctuary. Her eyes fell upon the staircase which would lead her to her room, she shook her head knowing that she was too tired to sleep, as if she even could when the music was playing this loud. Then upon looking at the door she knew that the fresh air had to do her some kind of good. Pushing her way through the crowd, while they continued to dance, drink and what not, she relieved when her hand hit the handle of the door. Quickly she twisted it then practically collapsed outside, just managing to shut the door before she sat down. She sighed heavily breathing in the fresh Californian air, then closing her eyes feeling a wave of relaxation pass over her.

Cassady was surprised to find a joint in front of her face when she opened her eyes. Slowly she raised her head to lock eyes with the person holding it out to her. He was young about seventeenish looking, with green hair, and bedroom blue eyes that friendly gazed back at him. His eyelids were half open , and she smiled at his Dickies shorts taking in the friendly look of another Californian that wasn't in Derek's popular crowd. Smirking she took the joint from the guy putting it to her lips, after all she hadn't been killed from taking one from any other stranger yet. Automatically she felt even more relaxed, and already had forgotten all about Amber and her little dominated love slave.



Tre was slightly surprise to see that she didn't choke on the joint.

Too bad this isn't Derek's sister, Tre though to himself. He knew that everyone chokes on their first joint, which meant that she had smoked before, and from what Derek told him his sister wasn't that type. But he had promised Derek that he'd go out with his sister just to get to know her, and Tre wasn't one to break his promises.

"So, what's your story?" She asked him handing back the joint.

"Just couldn't take the party anymore, you?" Tre replied, taking back the joint.


"Same," She told him staring at his lips as he pressed the joint to them.

"Yup, and the fresh air's always really great out here," he grinned handing her the joint again.

She nodded taking a drag.

Tre stood up no longer leaning against the wall and sat down next to her, "So what's your name? I know you're friend called you 'Crash', but I mean your real name."

She smiled feeling flattered then looking into his eyes she answered, "The name given to me by my parents is Cassady. And the name given to me by Amber and her parents is Crash. Either way. You can call me what you will, I'm used to both by now."

"Well I'm Cool, Tre Cool," Tre stuck out his hand.

"Very cool," Cassady smiled then shook his hand.

They became silent as Tre smoked the last of his joint after Cassady insisted that he did so. She watched him intensely as he pressed the joint to his lips, some how she was turned on by the way that he smoked. The way his lips parted just before he pressed it to them, and the way he closed his eyes before letting out the small curl of sliver smoke. When he finished she spoke.

"What's your real name?"

Tre let one side of his mouth curl up, "Edwin Wright The Third."

"I like Tre better," Cassady smiled at him trying to keep from giggling, "How did you get the name Tre Cool anyway? I mean that doesn't really seem to fit into Edwin Wright The Third."

Tre shrugged, "My old bandmates graced me with the name," he smirked from the memory.

"Really," Cassady sat up more interested, "What band, and what instrument do you play?"

"Lookouts! and drums."

"The Lookouts!? Really?"

"Yeah," Tre replied proudly.

"I love them, I mean you guys, I see you play all the time at Gilman, you practically own the place," Cassady told him, slightly blushing she added, "I always thought that the drummer was cute."

Tre smirked, "You like the no shirt thing, right?"

"What girl doesn't? I mean I've seen Sweet Children, Amber loves the lead singer. Oh," Cassady snapped her fingers, "What's his name?"

"Billie Joe? You know Amber?"

"Yeah, she's my best friend."

"She's going out with BJ, we're good friends, but that's not the only reason I know who she is. Isn't she in a band called, uh, oh yeah SOS? I think that she's their lead guitar and vocals. She's really good you know."

Cassady felt a pang of jealously that Tre didn't remember her out of the band, but instead Amber. But she only recognized Billie Joe, the lead singer from Sweet Children, out of the band, she supposed that Amber worked hard for the attention. After all Amber wrote the lyrics and music for their band in the first place, she also performed best under pressure, so she probably deserved some attention. Still Cassady was jealous that Amber also managed to snag the single most beautiful guy that Cassady had ever seen in her life. Who also just happened to be the lead singer of one of the best bands that happened to play at Gilman. Typical of Amber to go crazy over a guy like that, I mean he had his bad points, he smoked pot, drank quite a bit, and she couldn't know him that well. All of those rockstars were the best people to associate yourself with I mean they go on tour all the time, and half of them either die choking on their own puke or killing themselves. So why was Cassady so attracted to Billie Joe?

"Yup, I'm the melody in that band," Cassady replied feeling the rush of excitement when some one recognized their band.

"That's really cool," Tre ginned, glad that the two of them found something that they had in common. This might not be such a bad night after all.

"Yeah, but I heard that the Lookouts! split up?" Cassady questioned confused.

"We did," Tre said looking slightly sad, "I quit the band, it wasn't what I wanted to do."

"So you gave up drumming?"

"NO! I'm just looking for a new band to play with, actually I heard that Sweet Children's drummer might be quitting the band to go off to college. If I can get into that band I know that we'll make it someday, I just have this really good feeling about it. They are really good you know, and I love Billie and Mike. What ever happens I just hope it's for the best."

Cassady nodded staring at the ground.


Amber yawned desperately trying to keep her eyes open, leaning against Billie Joe's chest for some reason made her extremely tired. She blinked a few more times in the hazy room, they had been smoking, not Amber but every body else in the room. Now she felt as if she was getting closer and closer to falling asleep right there on his arm, despite her desperate attempts to keep herself awake for the rest of the night. There was no way that it was going to happen.

"Billie, I'm tired," She informed him, while pushing her head into the crook of his neck trying to find a more comfortable position.

She kissed his neck gently causing shivers to run up his spine. Billie Joe rubbed her back with his free hand, attempting to finish off the rest of his joint with his only other hand. He finally stubbed it out in the ash tray wrapping both arms around her, knowing that he'd had his fair share of smoking. Surprisingly Billie Joe hadn't been drinking much that night, when coming he planned to sleep over at the house, being friends with Derek, because he thought he'd be drunk. Amber on the other hand was probably a little bit on edge, she was probably as they would call it buzzed at the moment.

"Okay guys I think we've had enough, I'm going to take Amber home," Billie Joe said, while picking Amber's much lighter body up wedding style.

She put her arms around his neck while putting her head under his chin, which he rested on top of her head. Billie Joe managed to get up the stairs, then through the party and to the front door, he then opened the door stumbling outside where he found Tre and the girl Amber had called 'Crash' talking. For a moment he paused thinking that he should probably say good bye to Tre before leaving, the two being good friends.

Cassady looked up to see Amber in Billie Joe's arms, and him not drunk at all carrying her home, like a good boyfriend. For the first time she looked at them together she wasn't jealous, he did seem like a good boyfriend for Amber. After all they basically led the same life style, and had the same career, it was just a good match, she supposed. And it could have been the fact that she found her self liking some one else, some one sitting across from her on the walk way into her house. Some one named Tre Cool, with green messed up hair, and a stoners expression.

"Hey," Billie Joe began causing both of them to look up, "I'm going to take Amber home and get a good night's sleep for the gig tomorrow," he nodded towards Tre then added, "Make sure to be there at 8 or LL will get bitchy. Thanks for filling in for Al by the way."

"Yeah, yeah, as if drumming isn't my life and hobby. I'll see you there," Tre told him as he passed.

Billie Joe walked down the street to find his car, by the time they had reached the party all of the spaces by the house were taken. When he reached the car her opened the passenger side door then sat Amber down on the seat. He then ran to the other side getting in then starting the car, as Amber moved over so that she could lay her head down on his thigh. He smirked down at her then pulled out of the space looking back at the road while twisting himself to do so.

"Don't worry babe I'll get you to your house soon okay," He told her soothingly pushing her hair away from her face.

"I don't want to go home, I want to go with you," Amber mumbled to him.

"Babe, I wouldn't ever say no to a girl as pretty as you, but wouldn't your parents worry if you didn't come home?" He asked.

"Nope, I told them I was spending the night at Crash's."

Billie Joe smirked then squeezed her shoulder gently, "Okay then."



"So you're going to be performing with Sweet Children, your dream come true, huh?" Cassady asked smiling at him.

"Yeah, my dream come true," Tre rolled his eyes.

"I thought you said that you really wanted to be in the band?" Cassady asked confused at his sarcastic tone.

"I do, but you heard Billie Joe, I'm only the replacement for Al," Tre informed her looking slightly annoyed, "I honestly don't get it, I'm twice as good of a drummer as him, he's leaving, and I'm closer to the guys than he is. So why doesn't Billie just ask me to join the band?"

"Does it have to be Billie?"

"No, it could be Mike I guess, but Billie started the band, and he writes the music so I guess it's mostly up to him," Tre informed her.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Uh, I don't know what to tell you Tre honestly I agree with you, you are a better drummer than Al, I've heard both of you. But maybe they know that Al is going to college, and they think that it's only fair that they let him play with them until he leaves in the summer. It's only a few more months so why don't you just wait it out, I bet they'll ask you to join the band," Cassady told him reassuringly.

Tre nodded then standing up he said, "Well, I should leave."

"You would leave me here with all of those people in the house, I could get raped. Are you just going to let me get raped?" She fluttered her eyelashes pleading.

Tre gave her a look, she was gorgeous. He looked over her jeans with ripped holes, her black Ramones t-shirt, her glossy dirty blonde hair, and into her deep brown eyes. He knew that she must have been into punk because of the spiked black bracelet on her left wrist, and she was really cool. Maybe he should stay, but what if when they get up she doesn't remember him? She could ignore him for the days to come, still she didn't seem like the type of person who'd do that. But he'd be out on limb if he did decide to stay with her, but something in his stomach was urging him to do it.

He decided to take the chance.


Amber moaned sitting up in the front seat of the car as Billie Joe ran to her aid from his side of the car, despite the effort it took Amber opened her eyes. She stared at the house in front of her, which she recognized to be Billie Joe's, Mike also lived there, but she called it Billie's place. He opened the car door for her then picked her up once again, allowing her to place her arms around his neck. Walking towards the house Billie Joe couldn't help but grin, this was the first time Amber had ever spent the night at his house, and even though he knew that she'd have to sleep throughout the whole time he was still excited. There was no reason why anyone wouldn't be excited when they had a person they liked so much spending the night at their house. To him she was perfect.

"Thankyou Billie," Amber whispered into his ear, causing a small chill to run down his neck, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

Billie Joe smiled down at her, "Anything for you."

Amber smiled to herself, nuzzling her head into his chest so she could hear the sound of his heart beating. For some reason it soothed her, the constant beat of his heart, drifting her closer and closer to sleeping. And it was just where she wanted and wished to fall asleep. In his arms.

He reached the door to his house kicking the handle of it so it would open and he wouldn't have to stir Amber. Mrs. Armstrong (I'm calling her Mrs. A. even though by now she'd be remarried) always left the door open when the boys went to a party knowing that they'd more than likely come back drunk, stoned, or both. She smiled at him from the couch looking up over the book that she was reading, that had something to do with cooking. More than anyone Billie Joe loved his mom, she was the only one who really understood him now that his father left. She didn't doubt anything that he did, and didn't freak out when he told her he was quitting school soon. Out of every one she was the one that believed that Billie Joe would make it someday.

"Good night?" She lifted an eyebrow.

"Good evening Mrs. A," Amber murmured from Billie Joe's arms. "I'm really, really, really, tired, and slightly buzzed."

Billie Joe smirked at his mother, more than slightly proud of his girlfriend. He knew that his mother more than approved of Amber, she reminded her of a less stubborn Billie Joe. His mother had told him on more than one occasion how much she liked Amber, and never stopped reminding him not to let her slip through his arms. In response Billie Joe told her that he never would, knowing that he was falling in love with Amber every second he was near her.

"Yeah, we had a good night, with lots of drinks right Amber?" Billie Joe replied.

"Lots, and lots of drinks," Amber slurred.

"Uh huh, I can see that, well you two have a good night," Mrs. Armstrong informed her youngest son and his drunken girlfriend.

Billie Joe bit his lip to keep from laughing then with a smiled he told her, "Good night mom."

Billie Joe walked down the hall with Amber still in his arms in order to get to the other side of the house where his room was located. He was debating in his mind whether he should sleep on the floor or in the bed next to her, he wasn't exactly sure whether to take things slow with her or not. She seemed to want to be close to him, but she was slightly drunk at the moment, and probably just wanted to sleep. They had only been together for a three weeks after all, and they hadn't gotten past second base yet, but Billie Joe couldn't say he wasn't satisfied with just that.

Finally he decide to sleep on the floor, when he opened his door. He made his way to the bed then set Amber down on it, but she refused to remove her arms from around his neck. Her eyes were now open looking up at him in a tired gaze.

"No, don't leave me Billie, I'll get cold," Amber begged him.

"Babe you need to let me go so I can sleep on the floor," He smiled down at her.

"You are not sleeping on the floor you are going to sleep right here," She pointed to the space behind her in the bed.

"Are you sure?" He questioned.

"Yes, I want you to hold me," Amber pleaded with him.

"Like I would say no," Billie Joe remarked more to himself than her getting on the bed next to her then wrapping his arms around her. "Babe?"

"Hmm," Amber replied her eyes closed.

"Do you want a shirt to sleep in or something?"

"No. Don't move."

"Okay, good night."

"Night."



Tre sat back down next to Cassady knowing that he didn't want to leave her especially after she just begged him to stay. He looked into her eyes as she moved closer to him, he saw her shivering then managed to put his arm around her in a friendly way. When she leaned into him it became more intimate, he then laid his head on top of hers as she rested hers on his chest.

"Do you want to go inside?" She asked.

"Into the party, no thank you I like it out here," he replied.

"No, like up to my room?"

He lifted an eye brow wondering what she was getting at, at this point, "Okay."

She stood up grabbing hold of his hand as she led him to the door opening it then making their way towards the stair case. Neither of them realized that Derek had spotted them grinning to himself about how he knew that they'd like each other. Cassady then led him up to her bedroom, which had a giant sign on it that read 'STAY OUT NOT PART OF DEREK'S FREAKING PARTY!' on it. Tre smirked at the sign then walked into the room with her looking around at all of the stuff. He noticed several guitars sprawled across the floor and many band posters hanging up on the wall.

"So you must really like to play guitar, were you trying to come up with something?" Tre asked gesturing to all the guitars on the floor.

Cassady turned to face him, letting his hand go, "Yeah. Well these are mostly Amber's guitars, when we were younger she started up an obsession with collecting guitars then bought them with all the money she made. I'm not even joking she'd work for her dad, for 100 dollars a week then she'd spend all of the money buying all of these fucking things. At first it scared me, but then she started getting me nicer Christmas presents. And yeah."

"Hmm," Tre replied his eyes still wandering about the room. "So what do you want to do?"

Cassady grinned then pulled him by the collar of his shirt to kiss him, Tre was shocked at first, but kissed back never the less. He liked her a lot, the only thing that was standing in between him and asking her out was Derek's sister. Yes he was too stupid to think of why she'd be living in Derek's house if he wasn't his sister, no I'm just joking. Derek mentioned that he had a house mate, it was also female, Tre figured that Cassady was Derek's roommate. And that his sister lived down the hall. Little did he know that their housemate hadn't moved in yet, in fact Amber was moving into their house, she just hadn't gotten all of her stuff yet.

They continued to shove their tongues down each other's throats, that is until Tre felt her hands going up his shirt. That caught him off guard, even though he normally wouldn't mind it, this girl was moving like really fast. Tre grabbed her hands then set them on his shoulders as they continued to make out, but some how her hands found their way back to his shirt. She attempted to pull his shirt off, but he stopped her again then pulled away from her. Cassady stared at him confused.

"I thought that you liked me," she said.

"I do, it's just that my friend's kind of trying to set me up with her, and I promised him that I'd go out with her so I just can't do this," Tre told her avoiding eye contact.

"Maybe you should leave," Cassady spoke softly.